I'm sorry if driving properly inconveniences you....

....actually, I'm not. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than that dirty look you give me when I am waiting to turn right out of a T-junction, and you want to turn right and cut the corner, but can't. All because I am positioned correctly in the road. Thinking of clipping my car? Please do, your insurers will be glad to sort that one out.

Standards of driving in the UK are shocking. I wonder how people managed to pass their driving tests, the incompetence on display really is that bad. I honestly believe that there are too many cars on the road. How on earth can this be allowed, you may ask yourself? Well, I ask myself that, and I've come to this conclusion; cars are enormous revenue earners for the government. VAT on new car sales and other necessities, road tax, tax on fuel, it all adds up. Why spend money on a working public transport system when people can be given their own vehicles which fill up the coffers? It's a no-brainer.

But is it right?

Today, I've almost had the front end of my car taken off by people who "need to drive for their living".  AKA White Van Men.  Give way line? You'll come out worse than I will, mate. On top of that, I've waited, unnecessarily at roundabouts, because you apparently don't have to use indicators these days. I believe all new cars are fitted with telepathy. Or something. As for the white lines in the middle of the road, that's not to separate traffic, it's a guiding line one must follow. If my driving instructor is still alive, he wouldn't be if he'd seen what I had seen.

Thank goodness for the weekend and wine. No more driving for me, today....

Play Offs - reward or heartache?

As a Leicester City fan, I've experienced both the highs and lows of play offs. This year saw the first time a City side failed to reach Wembley having made it to the play offs. This does not have any bearings on my current feelings - the play offs should be scrapped.


I can see the reasoning behind them. It's to keep the season alive and for longer. To create some excitement as the season reaches its climax. To give more teams something to play for.  But is that the case? I don't think so.


A league structure is a true reflection of the season. It rewards, or punishes, consistency. The teams that win the most games go up, the teams that lose the most go down. It's simple. So why should a team that has had a less consistent season be fighting for promotion? It sends out the message "ok, we're not good enough to win promotion in our own right, but hey, we have another bite at the cherry". A club that has invested in the right management structure, the right players, and the right training system, but narrowly misses out on the top two spots enters the lottery that is the play offs. Fourty-six games of hard work, and consistency, is swept aside to give three, four, maybe five less consistent clubs another chance to get promoted. Why, then, bother? It's not just football; rugby union's top prize is decided, not by awarding the team that has scored the most points over the season the title, but by setting up qualification for a mini cup competition! Clubs are getting wise to this, and coaches may decide to rest players for games, whilst expecting the fans to pay full price for a game of rugby involving reserve team players. How long before football managers decide that this is the 'most effective' way of managing a squad?


The excitement argument would be more persuasive if there were play offs at both ends of the table. Why should it just involve promotion? Lets have more teams fighting for their divisional status, be it remaining in the same one, or the next step up. The original play off format did involve a battle for relegation and promotion. Why change it?


If those who run the leagues wanted to make the season more exciting, why not change the points structure, and scrap the play offs? Go back to the days of two points for a win. Three points were introduced to encourage wins, but rather than making the gap between a win and draw bigger, it should be as small as possible. If you want to get ahead and give yourself a breather from the chasing pack, you have to win your games if you only get two points. If it's three points, you can afford to win a few, and not be too worried by the occasional defeat or draw. Make it two, and a team cannot rest on its laurels.


As for our opponents, Cardiff City, they have managed to stave off yet another stay of execution. Their involvement in the play offs has meant that they have been given the chance to trade their way out of their financial predicament. As a Leicester fan, it would be wrong to question the rights and wrongs of such a decision. What I do wonder is, what will happen if Cardiff fail to make the Premier League? Will they have made enough to make themselves safe? Or will they be forced into administration? What will happen if they are promoted, but the High Court decides to issue the winding up order? Or Cardiff voluntarily go into administration? Will the Premier League agree to them joining? When will they face a points deduction? Should it be for this season that is ending, or should it be next? Can of worms; I'm thinking it's a barrel! I, for one, hope that whatever happens doesn't open it up. It would be unfair on us, who missed out on a spot in the final, and Swansea, who missed out on the play offs altogether. Replaying the play offs would be impractical. I get the feeling that Burnley would be spared relegation rather than giving us or Swansea another chance of Premier League football. And after the heartache and sleepless nights, I am more than happy to wait until next season before going through it all again!!

Championship Season 2009 - 2010

This time last year, Leicester City were winning League One; two years ago, we were being relegated from the Championship, following years of under-performance and under-achievement over the previous few seasons.  Relegation, whilst not a surprise, was not unexpected.  It still didn't stop me from crying.


My wildest dreams had us bouncing straight back up as Champions.  But they never had us bouncing back up and then challenging for a play off spot.  Last season was brilliant; even though we were in playing at a level we had never, as a club, played at before, I enjoyed our time in League One.  Whether I would be writing this if we hadn't been promoted, I don't know.  But it was great to be able to watch us winning regularly (obviously), but I enjoyed my match-day experiences far more than before.  Whether this was down to the fact that we were winning, is irrelevant to me.  I had some great days out, regardless of the result.  But the attitudes in the lower leagues was far more relaxed; overall, it was easier to discuss the season with opposition fans without it descending into a "my team is better than your team" farce.  I would like to think we came out of last season with a lot of credit.


Winning the title was the pinnacle of a great season.  The only way that this season would top that would be to exceed the expectations of this season, and for me, this would be anything above mid-table.  I was still cautious because of our previous seasons in the Championship.  But to say that we've exceeded my expectations is an understatement.  I never expected a play off place, let alone a convincing play off place.  We have been fantastic.


I would like to thank the players for making this season what it is.  But most of all, I would like to thank Nigel Pearson for taking me through the last two seasons.  We've had our low points in both, but we've had far more high points.  The squad has developed rather than been thrown together as previous managers have done.  They have done us all proud.  But it's not over yet.  We have at least two more games, hopefully three.  I don't want this season to end.